Spur-wheel for musical instruments



(No Model.) `2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, P. B. T. BERNBR.

SPUR WHEEL POR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 568.292. Patented Sept. 22, 1896.

l INVENTR g PauZRT/ermf 6 BY we ATTORNEYS (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. B. T.'BERNER. SPUE WHEEL EUR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

ATTR N EYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL B. TH. BERNER, OF GUTTENBURG, NEV JERSEY.

SPUR-WHEEL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,292, dated September 22, 1896.

Application lec'i January 16, 1896. Serial No. 575,728. (No model.)

perforated sheet; and the object of this invention is to secure a simple construction and reliable operation of such instruments, and the invention resides in the novel features pointed out in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of a bearing for a pick-shaft. Fig. 2 is a section along Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a perforated sheet. Fig. 5 is a section along y y, Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows a pick sectioned along e z, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view like Fig. 2, with parts in a different position than in Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation for the purpose of illustrating the purpose of the divided spur-wheel.

The instrument is shown as havin g tongues l, made to sound or speak by means of a pick or toothed wheel. The shaft 2 for the toothed wheel is shown supported by a bearing practically formed by a base 3, having arms or risers 4. A pick or wheel for each tongue l being rotatably mounted on shaft 2 between two adjacent arms 4, such pick will be kept in proper position on shaft 2 relative to the tongue to be sounded by such pick.

Each pick is shown composed of a toothed wheel made in two sections 5 and 5', each of said sections or hub parts 5 and 5' having teeth or pick portions o' and 6'. Each wheel 5 5' is shown with three teeth G 6', but manifestly this number can be varied.

A spring 7, engaged to or contacting with suitable studs or parts 8 8' of each section 5 5', tends to move or hold the tooth-sections 6 G' somewhat apart or in what may be called gaping position.

The perforations 9 9' of the music-sheet YlO are adapted to register with the tooth-seetions 6 G'. Each such double perforation has its section or part 9 placed somewhat out of alinement with section or part 9', so as to coincide with the tooth-sections G 6', lying alongside one another.

The perforated sheet 10 is made to move or travel as shown, and when an unbroken or unperforated part of the sheet is at the pick, Fig. 2, the sections 5 5' are pressed or moved in opposition to the spring 7 to cause the toothsections to approach or lie close alongside one another, but when a leading section 9 of a perforation 9 9' comes to a tooth-section 6, Fig. 7, the tendency of said tooth-sections 6 G' to open or gape will cause a tooth-section 6 to enter or engage the perforation-section 9, and

the pick or wheel 5 5' with its teeth 6 6 will rotate. The perforation-section 9' following section 9 will be entered or engaged by a tooth-section 6'. This engagement of a tooth G 6 with a perforation 9 9' will cause the motion of sheet lO to impart rotation to the wheel or pick 5 5', which rotation is continued until the tongue l corresponding to the actuated pick has been. moved or sounded by a pick tooth-section.

By having the tongues l suitably thinned or tapered at their free ends and placing such tongue ends in the path of but one set of tooth-sectionsas, for eXample,the tooth-sections G or 6'-the other tooth-sections 6' or 6 will not contact or interfere with said tongues.

Of course the invention is not confined to the exact construction shown, as modifications are possible which are within the scope of my invention. For example, the tongues l are shown as sounding-tongues, but of course they might be replaced by other parts of a musical instrument, as, for example, by keys or stops of an organ, piano, or the like, which keys can be actuated or struck by pick 5 5'. All such modifications are within the Scope of my invention.

The spring 7is conveniently housed between the pick-sections 5 5', suitably hollowed or chambered for the reception of such spring, but the manner of applying the spring as well as the form of the spring might be varied, if seen fit.

Of course the tooth-sections 6 G' need notlie alongside one another, as the hub-sections can manifestly be so set or recessed into one another that the tooth-sections would lie against one another, similarly to a pair of jaws, and

the perforation-sections 9 9' could be alined or IOO placed directly behind one another. Either tooth-section (3 or G might be caused to contact with or sound the tongue or part l, butin practice it may perhaps be found of advantage to have the tooth-section 6 engaged by perforation-section 9 perform the sounding or work, as the perforation-section may not be weakened by the close proximity of a following perforation,while the perforationsection 9 is apt to be weakened when being closely followed by perforation-section 9. If seen fit, however, both the toothesections t3 and 6' might each be caused to sound anote,as, for example, by placing or widening the :free end of a tongue l so as to be touched by both tooth-sections (S and G. Such modifications come within the scope of the invention,which by providing normally separated or gaping teeth secures reliable engagement of the teeth with the sheet or actuator l0.

The operation of the divided spur-wheel or of a compound tooth 6 (3 is as follows: The tooth-sections G (5', as noted, have a tendency to gape, Fig. 7. To facilitate the explanation, let the sections of one tooth in Fig. S be designated by (5 t1 andthe sections of another tooth be designated by 6* ljii. An imperferate or unbroken part of actuator l0 lying or pressing against the tooth-sections G and 6* the tooth-section (3 will be held or pressed against the gaping tendency in the direction of arrow 1l or toward tooth-section t5', and the tooth-section 6'* will be held or pressed against the gaping tendency in the direction of arrow il* or toward tooth-section (3*, or, in other words, the sections of each tooth G (5' and Gi G* will be held or pressed together or toward one another to close or lessen the gape. As soon, however, as perforation 9 registers with tooth-section G, the gaping tendency causing tooth-section (i to separate or move away from tooth-section G, said toothsection 6 will rise or engage into perforation E), the tooth-section (it at the same time separating or moving away from tooth-section l/ii, lying against an imperforate part of actuator or sheet l0. The purpose of such divided spur-wheel with gaping tooth-sections is to prevent the sheet or actuator l() having a perforation, as 9, missed by a spur-wheel, since the tendency of the spur-wheel tooth-sections to gape will cause av tooth-section to rise or snap into a perforation as soon as the perforation registers with a tootlrsection. The toothsections 6 and Gi, it is of course understood, are formed on or have a common hub-section, and the tooth-sections G and tl* have also a common hub-section, the hub-section with tooth-sections G G* and the hub-section with tooth-sections l5 0*" forming the compound spur-wheel.

-What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is@

l. A musicsheet provided with a double perforation for a note and a toothed wheel or pick having tooth-sections to register with such double perforation substantially as described.

2. A music-sheet provided with two nonalined perforation-sections for a note and a toot-hed wheel or pick having tooth-sections to register with such perforation-sections sul stantially as described.

A toothed wheel or pick for musical instruments having a tooth made in sections placed side by side substantially as described.

et. A toothed wheel or pick for musical iustruments having a tooth made in sections and a spring made to separate or hold apart said tooth-sections substantially as described.

5. A toothed wheel or pick for musical instruments having a tooth made in sections and a spring made to separate or hold apart said tooth-sections, said spring being interposed between and engaged to said tooth-sections substantially as described.

(5. A toothed wheel or pick for musical instruments having a tooth iliade in sections, and a music-sheet and a spring made to counteract or oppose one another in approaching and separating the tooth-sections substantially as described.

7. A toothed wheel or pick for musical instruments having a tooth made in sections, a spring' made to move said tootlrseetions to gaping position, and a musiesheet made to move said tooth-sections together or in contrary direction to the motion by said spring substantially as described.

S. A music-sheet provided with two nonalined perforation-sections for a note and a toothed wheel or piel: having tooth-sections to register with such perforation-sections, and a tongue registered or alined with one of the pick-tooth sections substantially as described.

9. A toothed wheel or pick for musical instruments having a tooth made in sections, a spring made to move said tooth-sections to gaping position, a music-sheet made to move said tooth-sections together or in contrary direction to the motion by the spring, and a tongue with which one of said tooth-sections is made to register or contact substantially as described.

10. In a musical instrument the combination with spring-separated pick-teeth, of a music-sheet made to move said teeth together or in contrary direction to the motion by the spring, substantially as described.

Il. The combination with a music-sheet or actuator, of normally separated or gaping teeth made to engage said actuator substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IAUL 13. .ll'l. BERNIER.

IVitn esses:

WM. C. IIAUFF, E. F. KAs'rnNHUnER.

IOO

IIO 

